Speedometer ideas?

[Denee007]

Hi! after painting my dash yesterday, I have to start thinking of speedometers, and I know I should overhaul my stock setup as it needs everything! If I ask my husband nicely, he'd probably let me buy the one I have shown here, but 755.oo kind of hurts! seems like everything I buy is a few hundred bucks at a time! lol
How much does it generally cost to make my original nice again? or is it just better to buy an aftermarket one? ; )



shooting clear coat today!

[OrrieG]

There is an aftermarket on on Ebay used but never installed for $25. Search "1959 Chevy truck" then recent bids. It showed up yesterday. I cleaned up my stock one, all the gauges were working, good chrome and plastic when I pulled it so basically just cleaning. Took about 2 hours, I think I did it during the super bowl one year? I added an aftermarket tach and trans temp gauge under the dash.

[_Ogre]

i modified everything on my truk, one item i consider classic task force is the instrument cluster
mine was filthy from 50 years of driving down dirt roads, none of the lights worked any more
i pulled everything apart and cleaned it up with windex and q-tips
buffed and polished the bezel, rattle can crinkle paint for the back plate and a new dash lens from lmc truck



i had about $50 in this rebuild; $29 for the lens (on sale), $10 for new bulbs and a can of crinkle paint.
i did eventually change out my speedo for a new on ($99 on sale) so the odometer would show miles on my newly rebuilt truk
i sold the old speedo for $30 to a member here to offset some of that money

i also modified my amp gauge by converting it to a volt meter ($18)
look at my build for more info on that.



this is the new speedo with 06600 miles showing on this years power tour



i just think the stock(ish) looking instrument cluster looks best in these trucks
i have a total of $137 in rebuilding mine including the cost of the new speedo

[Denee007]

Gee Ogre, that looks wonderful! Ok, that looks like the route I should go~ refurbish it with a voltmeter. Thanks! and you too Orrieg! ; )

[Denee007]

Clear coat is a pain to shoot! color is much more fun to apply! ; ) I got two tiny runs, more of a slight sag, barely noticeable. Glad that's over with! I cannot imagine painting an entire truck with all the nooks and cranies!

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Denee007

Clear coat is a pain to shoot! color is much more fun to apply! ; ) I got two tiny runs, more of a slight sag, barely noticeable. Glad that's over with! I cannot imagine painting an entire truck with all the nooks and cranies!

You have to have really good light for the clear for sure.I wouldn't paint anything that isn't apart. Too many places that get missed and there are overspray problems etc.

[mknittle]

if the runs are in the clear you can sand them out and buff it out. It is better in the clear than the color!

[mknittle]

wow my wife is closer to you than me! she is in the Dallas airport.

[Denee007]

The big D! still A 4 hour drive, not too bad, but we rarely go there.
Overall, I'm pleased the way my small paint job turned out. Better lighting would have been helpful! ; )